The US has around 30,000 troops across key Middle East bases, including Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base — the region’s largest and home to US Central Command operations. On June 23, Iran targeted the base in retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites,

Satellite imagery and rising tensions have placed US air bases in the Middle East, especially Qatar’s Al Udeid, under increased scrutiny. The region hosts eight permanent US bases, now on alert following threats of Iranian retaliation.

The United States decisively entered into conflict with Iran on Saturday after President Donald Trump ordered US warplanes to drop massive bombs on three nuclear sites inside the country, thrusting him squarely into an escalating Middle East conflict even as he holds out hope the matter can be resolved diplomatically.